Hugo de Pree
British Army officer (1870–1943)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Major-General Hugo Douglas de Pree, CB, CMG, DSO (25 December 1870 – 30 March 1943) was a British Army officer who served as Commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.
Hugo de Pree | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | 25 December 1870 |
| Died | 30 March 1943 (aged 72) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Service years | 1890–1931 |
Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Royal Artillery |
| Commands | Royal Military Academy, Woolwich 55th (West Lancashire) Division 13th Indian Infantry Brigade |
Conflicts | North West Frontier Second Boer War First World War |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches |
Military career
Educated at Eton College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich,[1] de Pree was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 25 July 1890.[2][3] He was promoted to lieutenant on 25 July 1893, and served on the North West Frontier of India in 1897. Promotion to captain followed on 3 February 1900,[4] when he was divisional adjutant at Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich.[5] After the outbreak of the Second Boer War in South Africa, he volunteered for service with the Imperial Yeomanry. He served originally with the 17th Battalion, but was on 3 May 1902 appointed second-in-command of the 7th Battalion, with the temporary rank of major.[6] He relinquished his appointment with the Imperial Yeomanry on 5 September 1902,[7] and returned to the Royal Horse Artillery[8] to be stationed at Secunderabad.[9]
De Pree later served in the First World War, being made a General Staff Officer (Grade 1) in January 1915.[2][10]
He was appointed commander of the 13th Indian Infantry Brigade in 1920, promoted on 1 January 1924 to major general,[11] and made general officer commanding (GOC) of the 55th (West Lancashire) Division, Territorial Army (TA), in April 1925, in succession to Major General Sir Cecil Nicholson.[12] He was commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, in 1926,[13] before retiring in 1931.[2]
He lived at Beckley in East Sussex where there is a memorial to de Pree at All Saints' Church.[14]